House approves helmet law repeal; future of bill uncertain

The state House has approved a measure to repeal Michigan’s motorcycle helmet requirement for riders who are at least 21 and have two years experience.

Opponents of the helmet law have been trying to get rid of it since it was adopted in 1976.

State Representative Paul Opsemmer supports the repeal. He said Michigan has a stricter helmet law than any neighboring state and that has had an effect on tourism.

"Repealing this law will open up Michigan’s scenic highways and open roads to many out-of-state riders who do not come to the state of Michigan," Opsemmer said. "Right now, they’d have to pack one helmet for the state of Michigan alone.”

Riders who want to ditch their helmets would have to carry an additional $20,000 in medical coverage. That’s more than what’s required in any other state without a helmet requirement.

State Representive Joan Bauer and other supporters of the current law said that’s not nearly enough to cover the medical expenses of a critically injured rider.

"That would perhaps pay for a broken bone," Bauer said. "I also have a pretty good idea of the costs involved – the emotional costs to the patients and families and the crushing medical costs – all of which I fear will increase dramatically if we no longer require motorcyclists to wear helmets.”

Bauer said taxpayers and insurance customers would have to pick a lot of those additional costs.

Opponents of repealing the law say the extra coverage would pay just a small fraction of a critical head injury and the balance would be forced onto taxpayers and insurance customers.

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A few hundred opponents of Michigan’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law rallied today at the state Capitol.

They support a state Senate bill that would allow riders 21 years and older to choose to ride without a helmet. They would have to have at least two years of riding experience, or have passed a motorcycle safety course.

Governor Rick Snyder says he's open to granting the wish of riders who want the helmet requirement repealed, but he also says he needs some assurances that the public won’t be saddled with big medical bills when helmetless riders are injured.

"And I’ve had an open discussion with them and I said one of the concerns that I want to look at is the cost to all of our citizens in the state, and understanding those and making sure we are doing it in a fair way," Snyder said.

Helmet law foes believe they have the votes in the Legislature to get a helmet law repeal passed.

Laura Brand-Bauer says she typically wears a helmet, but wants the option to ride without it.

"You know, I've ridden without a helmet on occasion in Ohio and Indiana and wouldn’t mind being able to do that when I felt like it," said Brand-Bauer. "I do believe that people should have a choice."

Insurance companies and traffic safety advocates say the helmet law is working and should remain as it is. Opponents of the law say training and experience are more important than wearing a helmet to avoid deaths and injuries.

The poll from EPIC-MRA released today says 68% of those surveyed oppose proposed legislative changes that would allow some to ride without helmets. Thirty-one percent favored the legislation and 1% was undecided.

The telephone poll of 600 respondents was conducted July 9-11 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Police said Philip A. Contos, 55, hit his brakes and his motorcycle fishtailed. Contos was sent over the handlebars of his 1983 Harley Davidson and hit his head on the pavement.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"The medical expert we discussed the case with who pronounced him deceased stated that he would've no doubt survived the accident had he been wearing a helmet," state Trooper Jack Keller told ABC News 9 in Syracuse.

Some riders in the rally told ABC that it was a tragedy, but it wouldn't change their minds about riding without a helmet.